Marawi documentary “Di Ka Pasisiil” brings home Gold Dolphin from Cannes

Journalists Jeff Canoy and Chiara Zambrano at the 9th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards. (Photo: jeffcanoy/Instagram)

Another trophy is added to the country’s collection of accolades as ABS-CBN’s documentary about the Marawi siege happened in 2017, “Di Ka Pasisiil (Never Shall Be Conquered),” bagged the Gold Dolphin for Best Documentary under the Current Affairs, Human Concerns, and Social Issues Category at the 9th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards.

It was on September 27, Thursday, when ABS-CBN journalists Jeff Canoy and Chiara Zambrano received the award in Cannes, France.

“Tonight, we won the first ever Gold Dolphin for the Philippines in Cannes,” Jeff wrote in an Instagram post as he shared the good news to his fellow Filipinos.

Jeff shared that the Europeans dominated the said competition, but for a few breathtaking minutes, the crowd was able to see two ‘”funny kids from Manila” coming up to the stage and sporting a piña barong and inaul dress as they receive the award.

“It felt great to hear our country’s name. And it felt even greater when people came over to ask us about the Philippines and the story of Marawi,” the Kapamilya correspondent said.

Meanwhile, Chiara, who apparently still on cloud nine, said she even had to wait for her hands to stop shaking just so she could write a heartfelt message to everyone.

The documentary, she said, is for “all the people in Marawi whose lives were taken in horrible ways. For their loved ones, who will never be the same. For the soldiers who agreed to enter the nightmare, and stay in the nightmare until the skies were dark no more.”

“This is for the Philippines, crazy and imperfect, but ours, heartwarmingly ours. Tonight, the world heard our story. Let’s keep telling more,” she added.

Even after the declaration of Marawi City’s liberation in October 2017, Jeff, in his post, believes that the story of the war-torn city is still far from over.

“The Filipino journalists across various newsrooms, who will continue to give their very best to make sure that tomorrow will be a bit better than yesterday,” he vowed.

“Di ka Pasisiil” tugged at the hearts of many as it tells stories of struggle and survival of both the government troops and civilians during the month-long battle laid by local terror groups in the country on May 23, 2017.

This was not the first time the documentary won an award. In April, it won the 2018 Gold World Medal in the New York Festivals under Continuing News Coverage category.

According to ABS-CBN News, it also won the Best Documentary award at the Gawad Tanglaw, Certificate of Creative Excellence from the 2018 U.S. International Film & Video Festival Awards, and the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards.